Safety-stirrup.



W. T. PRATER. SAFETY STIRRUP. APPLICATION FILED APR.14, 1914.

' 1 1 24,801 Patented Jan.12, 1915.

THE NORR/fi PETERS c0 PHUVO LITHO. \vAMHm, fo/v,

WILLIAM T. PRATEB, OF BLOOMFIELD, MISSOURI.

SAFETY-STIRRUP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 12, 1915.

Application filed April 14, 1914. Serial 1T0. 831,784.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, WILLIAM T. PRATER, acitizen of the United States, residing at Bloomfield, in the county ofStoddard and State of Missouri, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Safety-Stirrups, of which the following is aspecification.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a safety stirrupwherein the construction thereofenables the quick release of the foot ofa horseback rider there from should the animal become fractious or fall,thereby avoiding the possibility of either foot being hung or held fastin the stirrup, which would result in preventing such rider frombecoming liberated to obviate injury during a hazardous moment.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a safety stirrupwherein the tread bar will be automatically released under the action ofthe foot of the rider, that is to say, should the foot rock or becomelitfed in the stirrup, and in this manner the foot will be freed, thusobviating the accidental throwing of such rider from his mount on thesaddle in event the animal be- 4 comes frightened or falls.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a stirrup whereinthe safety latch can be adjusted to accommodate different sizes of feetin the stirrup for the convenience of the rider.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a safetystirrup of this character which is simple in construction,

serviceable, positive and reliable in its operation, and inexpensive inmanufacture.

With these and other objects in view, the

invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement ofparts as will be hereinafter fully described, illustratedin theaccompanying drawing, and pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawing :-Figure 1 is a perspective View of a stirrup constructedin accordance with the invention ready for use. Fig. 2 is a similar viewshowing the foot bar released. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinalsectional view through the stirrup when ready for use. Fig. 4 is asectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a fragmentaryvertical sectional view through the adjustable clip. Fig. 6 is asectional view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout theseveral views in the drawing.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the stirrup comprises a frame 10 ofsubstantially inverted U-shape, including spaced depending inner andouter side limbs 11 and 12 respectively, the frame being provided with asuitable slotted car 13 at the center thereof for receiving the stirrupstrap for connecting the stirrup to a riding saddle. It is of course tobe understood that the frame 10 is preferably made from metal, althoughit may be made from any other suitable material possessing the requisitestrength and durability. The inner side limb 11 of the frame is extendedbeyond the outer side limb 12 and has at its free end a split bearing 14between which is arranged one end of a cross tread bar 15, the

end engaged between the bearing 14 being swingingly supported upon apivot 16 mounted in the said bearingll, while the limb 12 is slotted toform a loop 17 in which is received an upturned latch end 18 formed atthe opposite extremity of the tread bar 15 the said latch end 18 beingprovided with an offset portion forming a shoulder 19 which engages thelower end of the loop 17 to hold the tread bar 15 in position forclosing the stirrup and to support the foot of the rider when engagedtherein.

Slidably fittedon the inner side limb 11 ofthe frame is a clip -20having a slot 21 for receiving any one of a series of lugs 22 formed onthe limb 11 so as to hold the clip 20 in vertical adjusted positionthereon, the clip at the portion embracing the side limb 11 being formedin one side thereof with an internal groove 23 which permits the clip 20to pass the lugs 22 on the limb 11 when the said clip is rotated thereonto bring the groove 23 in alinement with the lugs, and in this mannerthe clip can be readily adjusted. Swingingly connected to the clip 20 bymeans of a pivot is a trip latch,'here inafter fully described.

Fitted on the inner stretch of the loop 17 of the outer limb 12 of theframe is a releasing slide member 25 bent into substantially figure 3shape, having in one end a seat 26 to receive the latch end 18 on thetread bar, while bearing against the opposite end is a coiled expansionspring 27 which surrounds the outer side limb 12 and has its oppositeend working against a 001- lar 28 secured to the side limb 12 so as tosustain the frame under tension to npiirnally hold the slide member 25in position for locking the tread bar closed. This slide member 25 isdesigned for rotation on the outer side limb 12 as well as for slidingmovement thereon, and is adapted. to cooperate with the latch presentlydescribed.

The latch comprises a channeled arm 29 which is pivoted to the clip 20and in the channel of this arm is adapted to engage a second arm 30, thesame being supported upon a pivot fixed in the arm 29, and is engageableat its free end in a seat 32 formed between the curved ends of the slidemember 25 when the arm 30 rests in the channeled portion of the arm 29to prevent the turning of the slide member 25, and thereby releasing thetread bar. The arm 29 is formed with an extension 33 with which isadapted to engage the foot of a rider so as to move the arm 29 outwardlyaway from the arm 30, thereby disengaging the latter from the seat 32,which frees the sliding member 25 for rotary movement, and on therotating thereof by any downward pressure upon the tread bar 15, willdisengage the latch end 18 of'the latter from the loop 17, thus thetread bar 15 will swing to open position and free the foot from thestirrup. Should the check bar 15 be in normal closed position and thefoot of a rider resting thereon, now when the foot is raised in thestirrup the same will be brought into contact with the arms 29 and 30which are in position for locking the member 25 against rotation, and onthe outward pressure of the foot against the arm the member 25 will beslidably raised on the inner stretch of the loop 17 of the frame 10,thus disengaging the latch end 18 of the tread bar and thereby unlockingthe same to permit the freeing of the foot from the stirrup. It will beapparent that the tread bar 15 will be unlocked should the foot of therider rock in levies at this patent may be obtained for five cents each,by addressing the the stirrup or be lifted thereon so that the foot willbe readily freed or disengaged from the stirrup in event of the animalbecoming fractious or falling. The dragging of the rider will beprevented when the stirrup is in use, and the possibility of the hangingof the foot therein is obviated, so that the user of the stirrup isinsured against injury while in active riding.

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction and manner ofoperation of the device will be clearly understood, and therefore a moreextended explanation has been omitted. I 7

What is claimed is g 1. A safety stirrup comprising a frame havingspaced side limbs, a tread bar hinged to one of the limbs, a loop formedon the other limb, a latch end on the tread bar and engageable in theloop, a releasable slide mounted on one stretch of the loop and engagingthe latch end of the. tread bar, and trip means adj ustablyconnected tothe other side limb and engaged with the releasing slide to hold thesame in-locking position.

2. A safety stirrup comprising a frame having spaced side limbs, a treadbar hinged to one of the limbs, a loop formed on the other limb, alatch'end on the tread bar and engageable in the loop, a releasableslide mounted onone stretch of the loop and engaging the latch end ofthe tread bar, trip means adjustably connected to the other side limband engaged with the releasing slide to hold the same in lookingposition, and means operative upon the slide to normally hold the sameinposition for engagement with the latch end of the tread bar.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM T. PRATER.

Witnesses:

S. N. l/VrLLIAMs, W. O. STAFFORD.

Commissioner of Patents Washington, D. C."

